The Runner 11-14-22

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Nov. 14, 2022 | Vol. 48, No. 3 therunneronline.com

NEWS

Giant sequoia tree population faces large decline due to wildfires

| NEWS | THE RUNNER | Nov. 14, 2022 | therunneronline.com

By Kaitlyn Milam News Reporter

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Growing up in central California, you probably have fond memories of visiting a giant sequoia grove in a national park.

Maybe you’ve craned your neck up at these beauties while hiking the trail of 100 Giants.

Or perhaps you’ve marveled at the magnitude of the world’s largest tree, in terms of trunk volume, the General Sherman in Sequoia National Park.

Before it became illegal to cut down giant sequoias, logging reduced these groves greatly.

Now, these trees face a growing threat each year: wildfires.

In the last two years, about 20% of the giant sequoia tree population has been killed due to three major wildfires: The Castle Fire in Tulare County, the KNP Complex Fire, and the Windy Fire in the Sequoia National Forest.

Two plant biology professors and their students here at CSUB study the effects of drought and wildfire on native species in California. One of the native species that they study is the giant sequoia trees, which are the oldest and largest trees in the world and estimated to live for over 3,000 years.

Plant Biology Professor Dr. Brandon Pratt said that giant sequoias are well adapted to coping with fire because they can coexist with certain fire regimes known as smoldering

ground fires.

“Sequoias have this amazingly thick bark that is filled with air, which is a great insulator. The air inside the bark protects the living tissues inside it from the fires,” said Pratt.

However, the scope and strength of recent wildfires are growing so much that even the giant sequoia trees are not surviving them.

Fellow Plant Biology Professor Dr. Anne Jacobsen said, “We have these organisms that are thousands of years old, that have lived and survived through fires and droughts for thousands of years, and they are dying now. So, that tells us that these fires and droughts that we are having are not normal.”

The Castle Fire, which raged from Aug. 19, 2020 to December 2020, burned about 171,000 acres of the Sequoia National Forest. According to the National Park Service website, “The Castle Fire killed an estimated 7,500 to 10,600 giant sequoias. This is 31 to 42 percent of large sequoias within the Castle Fire or 10 to 14 percent of all large sequoias across the tree’s natural range in the Sierra Nevada.”

Giant sequoias only grow naturally between 4,000 and 8,000 feet in elevation on the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California, according to the National Park Service website. The KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fire both

started from the same lightning storm on Sept. 9, 2021, and have burned an estimated 186,000 acres combined, or about 5% of the giant sequoia tree population in the world.

“Giant sequoia trees specialize and become exquisitely adaptive to a particular environment. The current environment is shifting and these majestic giant creatures are now in a vulnerable state because of climate change,” said Pratt.

The most recent fire, the Washburn Fire, started on July 7, 2022 and burned for 27 days across 4,886 acres of the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park. This grove is home to over 500 giant sequoias and the Grizzly Giant, which is the second largest tree in Yosemite standing at 209 feet tall.

Wynne Davis, a reporter and producer for NPR, said that a sprinkler system was installed to help increase humidity surrounding the Grizzly Giant and reduce the chance of a ground fire, in the article “Wildfire near Yosemite National Park threatens its largest grove of sequoia trees.”

The Washburn Fire was officially 100% contained on Aug. 4, 2022 and there was little to no impact to Giant Sequoias in the grove, according to “The Washburn Incident,” by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Jacobsen said, “For the groves that have been lost, it’s kind of amazing to think that

Photo by Courtney Park / The Runner Sunset rays on the General Sherman Tree Trail on Sept. 6, 2022.

even if we get seeds germinated and new seedlings coming back, it’s not just that we won’t see big trees again in our lives.

It’s generations of lives out before we will get those big trees back again.”

Gavin Horton, a second-year engineering sciences major at CSUB, said that throughout their whole life, they have gone camping and hunting in the Sequoia National Forest.

“I think it’s really sad that our forests have been burning so much recently because of all of the environmental hardships we have been dealing with. Just recently, I visited the lower sequoias and saw mountain sides full of scorched landscape and trees,” said Horton.

Contact Kaitlyn Milam at kmilan1@csub.edu

The Runner Staff FACULTY ADVISOR Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Vada Hepner vunderwood2@csub.edu Front page photos by Alea Gaona TOP: Ivan Reynolds showing out in the dunk contest on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in the Icardo Center.

BOTTOM: Nseije Ortiz (# 14) gets past Morgan Edwards (#2) and Shaunae Brown (#10).

Ellice Richman erichman@csub.edu SECTION EDITORS Haydee Barahona, Ernesto Leon, Frankie Nadal, Faith Okoli, Kiara Zabala COPY EDITORS Jaira Arcano, Jennifer Fain, Elizabeth Lackey, Guadalupe Leon REPORTERS/WRITERS Lila Arambula, Teresa Balmori Perez, Jaylene Collins, Rebekah Corral, Ashleah Flores, Cosme Garcia, Joselyn Green, Hailey Hernandez,

Kaitlyn Milam, Priscilia Mugwa, Alexis Robinson, Susan Rodriguez, Amyyah Rogers, Baylie Ruiz, Adriana Ruvalcaba SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Alyssa Cantu, Isiah Santana, Julisa Muñoz MULTIMEDIA TEAM Julia Cervantes, Maya Morales, Jennifer Serrano ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Silvia Catarino, Alea Gaona, Alexis Lynde, Elise Mayer, Courtney Park

THE RUNNER California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 ABOUT US The Runner is a laboratory newspaper published daily online with a monthly printed edition and PDF e-edition, in conjunction with the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield.

CONTACT US Send corrections requests, letters to the editor, op-ed submissions and press releases to runner@csub.edu.

Send advertising inquiries to jburger1@csub.edu.

DISCLAIMERS Views and opinions expressed in The Runner are not necessarily those of the editors, staff or the Department of Communications. The staff of The Runner reserve the right to refuse or omit any advertising or material which advocates illegal activity, or which may be considered libelous, irresponsible or tasteless.

COPYRIGHT Copyright belongs to the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield.

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NEWS

CSUB undergoes construction and renovation projects

| NEWS | THE RUNNER | Nov. 14, 2022 | therunneronline.com

By Julisa Muñoz Marketing Manager

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California State University, Bakersfield is undergoing both minor and major construction, as well as renovations.

Joseph Hedges, associate vice president of capital and facilities management services, said that all CSUs have a maintenance backlog set for things that should be fixed of over $4 billion which is distributed across all the campuses. CSUB gets approximately $326 million of that.

For Hedges what is most important to him is the first impression of the campus. Hedges said students are the top priority. He wants them to feel proud of the school they are attending. Hedges said that the goal is for CSUB to be a place that students, staff, faculty, and alumni can have pride in and see as a place that the campus community all own.

Psychology major and junior Celeste Ramirez said, “I think the campus is beautiful. I do in fact enjoy the new Humanities building. It looks amazing, aesthetically pleasing.”

Myles Karr, sophomore and Psychology major, chimed in to say, “I think all the buildings look good, but the desks in

DDH are horrible.”

Ramirez and Karr added that the ongoing campus construction and renovations have not negatively impacted their on-campus experience.

Hedges said he wants “to make this campus a place you want to be, not a place that you have to be. A home away from home, a kind of refuge. A place that’s safe, that the students see themselves in. They just want to be here.”

CSUB has plans for an $83 million project: the Energy and Innovation Building. It is the largest project the campus has seen since the campus was originally built. Joseph Hedges explained that the new building will go in the empty grass area between Science III and the Health Services Center.

According to Hedges, the Student Union expansion project was going to be an “all in one go project,” but because there is money and immediate need, there are going to be some parts of the renovations started. There are plans to add a pantry and Basic-Needs facility by the greenhouses. There are also plans to reserve a spot for a demonstration kitchen and edible landscaping that will tie into the Alumni Park.

Joseph Hedges described the planned renovations to the quad

as astronomical.

Hedges said, “That’s the original campus, that’s the heritage.”

CSUB has plans to renovate the buildings in the quad area, including the Classroom Building, Lecture Building, and CSUB Administration East, and change the surrounding landscaping in the area to be more sustainable.

“That really, to me, should be one of the focal gathering points,” said Hedges.

Hedges expressed that he hoped to create a center of community.

“I envision a place that will have outdoor gathering. A place that you want to come [to], that you want to sit [at],” said Hedges.

“We want to start a transformation of the campus,” said Hedges.

Hedges said he would like to change the landscaping to more sustainable options and add more gathering areas for students. Hedges said CSUB wants to replace existing trees for more native trees, like California Oaks, because the current sequoias on campus are dying due to the school water system not being able to water them properly.

“My mission is to make sure the students are the focal point

Photo by Courtney Park / The Runner The CSUB Food Pantry will undergo a two-year process of building and moving the facility to a nearby larger building.

of this campus,” said Hedges.

Hedges wants the students’ input as the university continues to make changes. Hedges said that the students’ funds are going into renovations like the planned Student Recreational Center Aquatic Center. So, the facilities team wants to be sure it represents the students.

“When you plan a new building, you look at what best supports the needs of the campus,” said Hedges.

“We’re a growing campus and more space is needed, so there is a need for planning for expansions,” Hedges said.

Hedges is always on the move, looking for things that need fixing. He feels proud when he walks into the bathrooms and classrooms and

sees just how clean they are.

He recognized the effort and professionalism that the janitors put in. These are small things, but they are the things that students experience the most, said Hedges.

“The biggest praise that I get is when you don’t complain. I take that as an accolade. I know that when I get complaints, something’s wrong,” said Hedges.

Hedges encourages students to report any issues they see.

To report, go to https://csub. service-now.com, click on Facilities Service Catalog, then click on the appropriate option.

Contact Julisa Muñoz at jmunoz29@csub.edu

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FEATURES

By Courtney Park Photographer

Congratulations are in order for the theater and music department at California State University, Bakersfield, for their phenomenal presentation of the off-Broadway hit: “Little Shop of Horrors.”

“Little Shop of Horrors” has been enjoyed by the masses for over 30 years. Originally written and directed by Howard Ashman, with music by Allen Menken, “Little Shop of Horrors” has continued to remain popular in the hearts of many since its release in 1982. It is no question why director Mandy Rees chose this classic for CSUB’s Fall 2022 showcase.

I had the pleasure of speaking with director Mandy Rees, who expressed that she has enjoyed working through not only the challenges that Little Shop of Horrors has provided for the actors and actresses this semester, but also the lessons it has taught them.

Not only are the musical performances captivating and fun to watch, but the themes of comedy, sci-fi, horror, and romance provide something to enjoy for everyone in the audience.

The students of the CSUB acting department each brought their own flair to beloved characters like Seymore and Audrey on the stage, and have clearly put in the work it takes to create a worthwhile show. Not only did the actors nail their lines, they also put hard work into the set!

Considering the show is centered around the bloodthirsty, ever-growing plant, Audrey II, it was vital to have great teamwork when puppeteering the large plant.

Rees explained that the movement of the plant provided a challenge for the actors due to the size. However, with the help of four students, the timing and manipulation of the set provided Photo by Courtney Park / The Runner a tricky, but valuable, lesson for From left: Gissela V. Zeleya, Maya Blackstone, and Gabriel Abboud in CSUB’s Fall 2022 performance, those performing.

Little Shop of Horrors.

THE RUNNER | Nov. 14, 2022 | therunneronline.com |

CSUB presents ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

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FEATURES

18th annual KIE fall lecture features civil rights activist Dolores Huerta

| FEATURES | THE RUNNER | Nov. 14, 2022 | therunneronline.com

By Adriana Ruvalcaba Features Writer

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Activist and organizer Dolores Huerta spoke on Thursday, Nov. 3, at California State University, Bakersfield’s Dore Theatre.

Huerta was invited to speak for the 18th Annual Kegley Institue of Ethics Fall Lecture.

The title of her lecture was: “Leadership and Activism: How to Overcome Apathy and Find Your Power.”

Huerta began the event saying she felt nervous speaking to the audience. But the nervousness must have vanished, as she left no subject untouched.

Her lecture challenged white supremacy, sexism, and the oil business.

Most importantly, she delivered a message of empowering the people and encouraged others to make the changes the community needs.

Huerta said, “When you are an organizer, it’s not about you, it’s about the people you empower.”

Huerta, who is now 92 years old, shared her wisdom from over 65 years of community activism. She discussed her early activism work with the Community Service Organization in the 1950s, the Delano Grape Strike of 1965, and the current work being done with the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

She said it was her early years of canvassing to register voters and organizing from a grassroots level that inspired the foundation and her work to this day.

Huerta said “Knocking on the doors is so important … it gives you emotional fortitude because when you’re talking to strangers and you’re trying to convince them to do something like registering to vote or to vote, it really takes a lot of psyche energy … and it’s kind of scary when you’re talking to people.

Huerta continues, “But I

have to say, that was the beginning of my activism. Going out there, knocking on doors, getting people to register to vote and getting people to vote.”

She acknowledged the hardships one faces, but with activism, “you focus your energy on what you’re trying to accomplish. And all those problems that we have, they are going to be taken care of one way or another … But the thing is you’re focusing on what you’re trying to do, on the change you’re trying to make … And that really helps a lot with your own personal problems.”

When speaking on apathy, she said many people feel like they do not have the power to make change, “but once they become activists, it changes.”

The opening speaker, CSUB alumni Connie Perez-Andreesen, was one of those people whose lives were changed when becoming an activist. She is chief administrator officer and National Vice President of the United Farm Workers.

Perez-Andreesen said, “Thank you, Dolores, for all the doors you have opened to make this possible. Dolores, I stand on your shoulders, my life and career are just a small part of your legacy.”

Perez-Andreesen continues, “So, to those of you in the audience, I just want to say you are more connected to the history of our community than you think. And there is much to do here for the farm workers who feed us as ever. Don’t let tonight be a history lesson, get involved, vote next Tuesday, Nov. 8 … and encourage others to vote.”

Huerta also encouraged the audience to get involved. Members of the foundation were available to sign up volunteers and offered resources, such as COVID testing kits, at the theatre.

Lori Pesante, civic engagement and government relations director for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, said that the “mis-

Photos by Alea Gaona / The Runner Dolores Huerta, left, and Dr. Michael Burroughs, right, speak at KIE’s fall lecture on Nov. 4, 2022.

sion is to inspire and organize communities to create volunteer organizations to fight for social justice.”

Pesante revealed that the foundation will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year.

She said having a local grassroots organization is important. As an example of the work they do, she mentioned how the citizens of Weedpatch were being charged for streetlights, when they had no streetlights on their street. The foundation was able to advocate for that community and have done the same for many others.

Pesante shared, “there is a segment of our population that has no idea that stuff is happening all over the valley. And we are part of making sure that people see they don’t have to live with that. They don’t have to be satisfied with the status quo. That they have every right to be at the table and to not be on the menu.”

As for the lecture, Pesante said, “I think it is extremely important all the issues that she’s raising, in particular the comments Dolores made about our energy transition.”

Pesante is referring to Huerta speaking about her concern with carbon sequestration, a

Civil rights activist Dolores Huerta speaks at the 18th annual KIE fall lecture on Nov. 4, 2022.

questionable method on reducing climate change.

“It’s extremely important,” said Pesante.

“We cannot allow the same folks who have engaged in the environmental racism of 150 to 200 years to be the same people who are the only people making the decisions for the next hundred.”

Huerta’s message echoed the same sentiment throughout, reminding us all that “we are

one human race.”

“The only way we survived on this planet is because we took care of each other,” said Huerta.

“We supported each other, we protected each other, we shared whatever we had with each other. And that’s how we survived.”

Contact Adriana Ruvalcaba at aruvalcaba3@csub.edu

OPINION

Substitute madness soars in understaffed classrooms

By Rebekah Corral Opinion Writer

I have only worked post COVID, so I don’t know if this is how it always was. I have received calls from schools asking if I could sub when I am already on a job.

Another big difficulty is that every school does things slightly different.

Some days you have a class that all leaves for an hour, and you get a different class.

These setups are particularly difficult because the kids coming in are ready to party and don’t want to do anything.

With all this madness, a person might wonder why anyone would do this job.

In contrast to all the crazy days, there are some great days where you and the students sync up, and they feel like your class.

You get a chance to get to know them and help them learn new things.

These days definitely feel like a win. I see so many kids labeled troublemakers or difficult that just need some kindness and patience. Being in a position to help them have a good day and change how people see them makes it worth it.

Contact Rebekah Corral at rcorral@csub.edu

OPINION | THE RUNNER | Nov. 14, 2022 | therunneronline.com |

Being a substitute teacher is like that dream you have where you are standing in front of people and forget what you were supposed to say but it happens every day.

The biggest shock as a substitute teacher is finding that paper airplanes are still a real problem.

Honestly, it is a touch endearing that even with all the nonsense going on today, kids are still kids.

I feel that way only until one goes flying by me while I’m talking; then I get to say what millions of teachers have said for a hundred years: “Give me that airplane!”

There are rare occasions when a teacher goes out of their way to leave a detailed plan with real work to get done, but it’s definitely the exception.

On most days, you walk into a rowdy class of kids, relieved to see their teacher is not there looking to you for a free day.

With older kids, eighth grade and up, you walk to the desk where there are a couple of handouts and a note saying if they finish one, to give them

the other.

The handouts are busy work, and the kids know it, so they proceed to ignore it and try to chat and be on their phones all day.

Most of the time, you spend the day handing out bathroom passes and asking the kids to keep it down. It doesn’t feel like I do much real teaching in these situations. Surprisingly younger kids are infinitely easier to manage and get more work done than older kids. The only issue here is that, again, there are no clear lesson plans or schedules.

The kids have music lessons, choir, or special instruction that there are no heads up about.

The plans are often in google classroom, that you don’t have access to. I cannot count the times I’ve had to make a student open their Google Classroom so I can figure out what they are doing.

Originally, I thought this would be a good part-time job that would work around my school schedule. I had not anticipated the overwhelming need the schools would have for substitute teachers. On any given day, there will be 10 or more calls for subs not taken.

Illustration by Faith Okoli / The Runner

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SPORTS

Blue Gold Scrimmage gives preview of basketball’s upcoming season

From left: Kaleb Higgins (1), Simone Johnson (0), Kaleb Higgins (1) and Ugnius Jarusevicius (21), Tatyanna Clayburne (1), and Antavion Collum(4)

| SPORTS | THE RUNNER | Nov. 14, 2022 | therunneronline.com

By Susan Rodriguez Sports Reporter

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The party began in the Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza at 6 p.m. with fans playing games, eating snacks, and enjoying music. CSUB cheerleaders welcomed people as they arrived with cheers and dances as the plaza became more and more filled with school spirit.

As the party finished up, fans eagerly waited for the Icardo Center doors to open for the Blue-Gold Scrimmage game in order to get a glimpse of both basketball programs and to see what they can hopefully expect in the rapidly approaching season. Both the Men’s and the Women’s Basketball team were evenly split, with half the players wearing white for the gold team, and the other players wearing blue. The scrimmage would help fans become more familiar with their ‘Runners teams.

The Men’s Blue-Gold scrimmage began shortly after team introductions and a thrilling 3-point contest. The scrimmage would feature a new in-game dunk contest where specially selected judges would rate the dunks and then, at the end of the game, they would give a crown to the player with the best dunk. One of those judges was CSUB Men’s Basketball

Coach Ciarra Ford congratulates Tatyanna Clayburne on winning the three-point shooting contest on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in the Icardo Center.

great, Stephon Carter, who played with the ’Runners from 2009-2013.

The Women’s team played two, five minute halves, and six of their players participated in a 3-point competition where fans could win a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre. Six fans were each partnered with a different player; if their player won, they took home a new pair of Dre Beats.

The game began with a tip off that the Men’s Gold team won, but, in comical fashion, the gold team scored in the wrong basket awarding the blue team two easy points. The game began with flashy dunks and long 3-point shots as the crowded oohed at every scoring play. Junior guard Antavion

Collum (4) and senior forward Travis Henson (2) provided mind-bending dunks throughout the entire scrimmage, all the while newcomer guard Marvin McGhee III (10), and senior forward Cameron Smith (22), shot away from any and all distances, still seemingly finding the bottom of the net.

At the end of the game, Travis Henson (2) was awarded the crown for having the best dunk.

Although these players were competing against their own team in this scrimmage, they did not hold back as Women’s freshman point guard, Morgan Edwards (2), and sophomore point guard, Tatyanna Clayburne (1), both scored 3-pointers in the game.

Head coach for the men, Greg McCall, as he prepares for his twelfth season, gives insight on what to expect. “I think you can expect a lot of excitement, a lot of up and down. We like to really get up and down on our tempo… of course a lot of three point shooting, as you can tell.”

To showcase the player’s talent, there was a 3-point competition. Starting off the Women’s competition, freshman guard Sophia Tougas (5) competed against junior shooting guard Shaunae Brown (10), with a final score of 14 to 7. Freshman guard Julia Riley (33) finished off the competition with 18 points, making her the winner of the competition.

Photos by Alea Gaona / The Runner

Talent was visible throughout both quarters. The Women’s Gold team maintained their momentum and kept scoring keeping the final score of the second and final half at 20 to 14. This is something that both the players and Head Coach McCall are excited about in the upcoming games.

Senior center Soli Herrera (13) mentions what can be expected from her in future games, “More rebounds to help my team. A lot of communication, talk on the court.” Confidence is something Herrera (13) also mentions there is a gain of for this season. In addition to her individual expectations, Herrera (13) explains, “Right now we’re looking really good. Good chemistry, everybody is cool with each other, so we operate well.”

Good communication and teamwork is the theme of the season. Freshman point guard Morgan Edwards (2) adds, “I think we’re doing really good right now. We have a lot of chemistry on the team and I just can’t wait to get on the court and start playing with my teammates.”

Contact Susan Rodriguez at srodriguez55@csub.edu.

Cosme Garcia contributed to this report.